The Fellowship

spiritual formation + cultural engagement

Overview

The Fellowship is an 8-month immersive experience providing an orientation for living that will form you into the image of Christ and compel you outwards to love your neighbors. '

Who is the Fellowship for?

The Fellowship is for young professionals (20s to mid-30s) who desire to grow as followers of Jesus and live out the Gospel among their neighbors. Ideal candidates demonstrate a Christian faith, teachability and curiosity, commitment to the full program, and commitment to their community.

On Your Own Time

  • Read a selection of texts that will guide you in your formation and how you engage with the world (approximately one book per month)

  • Practice spiritual formation practices, including daily Bible reading and prayer and a weekly Sabbath

  • Meet with your mentor at least once each month for personal guidance and accountability

  • Respond to reflection prompts each week and write one reflection paper each semester during the program

With Your Cohort

  • Gather bi-weekly with for a meal, discussion of reading and practices, and personal story sharing

  • Participate in 4 retreats with your cohort that include Biblical teaching on spiritual formation and cultural engagement [from the Reformed tradition]

  • Engage in communal worship and spiritual formation practices, including hospitality, prayer, and service

  • Develop and hold each other accountable to a Rule of Life

What happens in the Fellowship?

Intentional Community

  • Gather regularly for a Common Meal and discussion with your cohort

  • Attend a local Bible-teaching church

  • Engage with your neighbors through practices of hospitality and service

  • Participate in social activties with your cohort, church, and neighbors as you are able


  • Fellows gather every other week in a host home for a meal together. During common meals, fellows have the opportunity to:

    • build deeper relationships with one another

    • share their story

    • discuss reading and other assignments

    • ask questions

    • reflect on their learning & experience

    • gain leadership & hospitality skills

    Common Meals are on Thursday evenings from 6-9 PM.

    Contact us if you have allergies or dietary limitations so we can do our best to accommodate your specific needs.

  • Fellows will participate in various service opportunities throughout the year and have the opportunity to learn about needs and serice organizations in our community.

    By the end of the year, Fellows will determine how they will serve regularly in their community following the program.

Purposeful Living

  • Develop and follow a set of individual and community practices - a Rule of Life - that will form you into the image of Christ and push you outwards to love your neighbor

  • Complete assignments that serve as building blocks for life-long, transformative habits

  • Meet regularly with a mentor for individual guidance and accountability

  • Fellows follow a Rule of Life with their cohort that includes practices of Scripture reading, prayer, Sabbath, generosity, service and community.

    Fellows will customize their Rule of Life as they identify their personal growth areas.

    We expect Fellows to continue building and living out their Rule of Life after completing the program.

    Specific expectations include committing to a specific, regular pattern of local and church service.

  • Each fellow meets regularly with their mentor (at least once per month) on a schedule they determine together.

    Mentors are selected based on the applicant’s church, schedule, and other information provided in their application materials.

Ancient Faith

  • Study the ancient and true teachings of Scripture to guide your life as you seek to live among - and for the good of - your neighbors

  • Attend two weekend retreats each semester (Friday evening + Saturday) that include Biblical teaching, discussion, and experiential learning

  • Read assigned books (one per month) and articles and listen to assigned podcasts that will spark your curiosity and deepen your understanding of how to live out our ancient Christian faith

  • Four retreats are held each year. Retreats are not overnight. They include sessions or film screenings on Friday evening and sessions, lunch and activities on Saturday in Lancaster, PA.

    Applicants must able to commit to attending all retreats in order to be considered for acceptance into the program.

    2025-2026 Retreat Dates

    Module 1: September 19 & 20

    Module 2: November 14 & 15

    Module 3: January 23 & 24

    Module 4: March 20 & 21

  • Our reading list changes from year to year, but below is a list of some of our past books. Fellows read eight books (one per month) during the course of the program, along with selected articles, and discuss them during Common Meals.

    • The Narrow Path by Rich Villodas

    • Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer

    • Work: It’s Purpose, Dignity and Transformation by Daniel Doriani

    • Naming the Animals by Stephen Roach

    • The Ministry of Ordinary Places by Shannon Martin

    • How to Know a Person by David Brooks

    • Generous Justice by Timothy Keller

    • How Far to the Promised Land by Esau McCaulley

  • Our teachers are typically local to the Lancaster area where they work and serve in various capacities. Below are some of our past teachers.

    • Tom Becker, Director of The Row House

    • Aaron Brown, Executive Pastor at Manheim Brethren in Christ Church

    • Bruce Etter, Case Manager with Anchor Lancaster

    • Dr. Justin Harbin, Director of the Center for Teaching & Learning

    • Dr. Justin Hawkins, Post-Doctoral researcher at Columbia Medical School

    • Kimberly Ibarra, Nurse Practitioner

    • Luke LeDuc, Senior Pastor at Wheatland Presbyterian Church

    • Adam Nagle, Executive Director of The Factory Ministries

    • Zachary Northen, State Parole Agent for Pennsylvania

    • Rev. David Peck, Rector at Saint James Episcopal Church

    • Kaitlyn Schiess, author

    • Dr. Dan Spanjer, School Principal at Veritas Academy

    • Samuel Spatola, Director of Student Ministries & Outreach at Wheatland Presbyterian Church

    • Clint Watkins

    • Keith Winder, Associate Pastor at Wheatland Presbyterian Church

    • Kristen Zimmerman

Fellowship Dates

2026-2027

Common Meals

1st & 3rd Thursdays, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

September 3

September 17

October 1

October 15

November 5

November 19

December 3

December 17

Fellows are expected to attend all common meals and retreats.

January 21

February 4

February 18

March 4

March 18

April 1

April 15

May 6

Retreats

Fridays, 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM and Saturdays, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (includes lunch)

August 28 & 29

October 30 & 31

January 15 & 16

March 12 & 13

Graduation: Friday, May 14 at 7:00 PM

Application Process & Program Fees

Applications for 2025-2026 have closed. Sign up for our email list to be notified when applications for 2026-2027 open!

Applications for the 2026-2027 cohort close on June 30, 2026. An interview may be requested following the submission of your application.

Program Fees:

  • $1,800 all-inclusive fee (including a $300 non-refundable deposit due upon acceptance)

  • Fees are payable in full (due September 1) or in 10 monthly installments of $150 each (plus the $300 deposit)

  • Limited need-based scholarships are available; contact us for more information

  • All accepted students are provided with a template letter to assist them with fundraising to help cover their fees

What’s included in the Program Fees:

  • Required books and materials

  • In-person classes

  • Retreat meals and activities

  • Common meals

  • Lifetime access to the GNP library

FAQs

  • Our cohorts are currently limited to 12 participants.

  • Housing is not part of this program. Our participants typically live in, or within 20 minutes of, Lancaster city. If you are relocating to Lancaster we may be able to assist you in locating temporary or permanent housing.

    • In your 20s to mid-30s

    • Employed and living in the Lancaster, PA area (or plan to be by the start of the term)

    • Able to commit to fulfilling all program requirements, including attending all common meals and retreats

    • Able to affirm their Christian faith and alignment with the Apostle’s and Nicene Creeds

    • Participants cannot be enrolled in any other schooling while in the Fellowship

  • This program is designed for individuals who believe in the saving work of Jesus Christ. We teach from a historically Biblical, primarily reformed, viewpoint and adhere to the ancient statements of faith - the Apostle’s Creed and the Nicene Creed. Participants do not need to belong to a specific denomination, but will be required to attend a Bible-teaching church while in the program.

  • The Fellowship is designed with the understanding that most participants are working full-time, and yet it is an immersive experience and should not be considered lightly. To get the most out of your experience, your attendance is expected at all common meals and discussion, classes and activities.

    Additionally, participants are expected to complete all reading and other assignments and reflections.

    Fellows meet at least monthly with their mentor.

    Cohorts meet together for about 3 hours every other week for a meal, discussion and prayer.

    Retreats are held twice each semester on a Friday evening and on Saturday from 9AM - 5PM.

  • We expect that our participants will be working at least part-time (and most people full-time) in the Lancaster area. We do not provide job placement services.

    Our schedule is built to complement a traditional full-time work schedule with all events happening in the evenings or on Saturdays.

    The workload is also built with the understanding that most students are employed full time.

  • We expect all of our fellows to be regularly attending a local church. By the end of the program, fellows should be committed to an area of service and/or leadership within their local church.

    When possible, we pair fellows with mentors who attend their church.

Is the Fellowship right for me? What if I have additional questions?

We would be delighted to help you explore if the Fellowship is right for you! Please contact us at admissions@gnplancaster.org or use the form below and someone will be in touch!

Request More Information